The future of Singapore’s bus network
Our local public transport system has been going through massive transformations, with MRT system upgrades making the most headlines. But of course, some of us prefer taking the bus, be it to admire scenic routes or just to avoid annoying MRT passengers.
For all you bus enjoyers out there, you’re not being left behind – there are some major upgrades on the horizon. Here’s a glimpse into what the future of our bus system and journeys could look like.
New buses
Our buses come in many shapes and sizes, from the good old bendy buses to the newer 3-door buses. This year, we’ll see even more variety within our bus ranks – these are the new additions you can look forward to boarding:
Electric buses
Image credit: ST Engineering
If you’re not a fan of inhaling petrol fumes as you’re waiting for your bus at the bus stop, you’ll be glad to hear that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has ordered 660 new electric buses, which you can expect on our roads from the end of 2026. This is part of their efforts to have a 100% cleaner bus fleet by 2040, including plans to have half of the fleet go electric by 2030.
For those who swear by the upper deck view, there’s even more to look forward to: 300 new double-deck buses are on the way, marking LTA’s 1st large-scale order for electric double-deckers. And commuters on board all the new buses can find their way more easily with the passenger information display system.
Driverless buses
Image credit: Land Transport Authority
Driverless vehicles are slowly but surely becoming less sci-fi and more everyday reality in Singapore, with the self-driving shuttles in Punggol being one of the latest signs of what’s to come. And as early as mid-2026, you’ll find driverless buses integrated into our public bus system too.
As part of a 3-year pilot programme, 6 driverless buses will be rolled out and eventually operate alongside regular buses. You’ll be able to easily spot the differences between these buses – beyond the obvious lack of a driver, you’ll notice the self-driving buses are much smaller than our regular ones, with just 1 door and 16 seats on board.
If you want to give these buses a shot, you’ll find them running on 2 bus services. Commuters in the CBD can hop on Bus 400, which serves the Marina Bay and Shenton Way area. Meanwhile, anyone closer to the west can spot Bus 191 plying the roads in the Buona Vista and one-north areas.
New bus services in 2026
Bus services are available at the ends of Singapore too.
Image credit: Tan Yi Jie
No matter where you are in Singapore, chances are you’ll find a bus service near you. But with so many new neighbourhoods popping up and existing estates growing, it’s only natural that more bus routes are needed to keep up.
Under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, LTA has been steadily rolling out new bus routes in 2026, giving commuters more options to get from place to place. Here’s a summary of the upcoming routes:
City Direct bus services
If you’ve been taking the bus to and from work every day, there’s some good news headed your way. City Direct bus services are getting an upgrade, with more convenient rides for regular commuters. Most of these are actually existing Express bus services getting rebranded with new service numbers, but they’ll also come with service enhancements.
These new services will come into effect from 15th June 2026:
| New bus service number | Original bus service number | Route | Service enhancements |
| 646 | 513 | Tampines to CBD | Additional bus stops in Tampines |
| 647 | 868E | Bukit Batok West to CBD | 1 morning trip & 2 evening trips added |
| 648 | 951E | Woodlands to CBD | Route amended to serve Woodlands Avenue 6, new bus stops added |
| 649 | 982E | Choa Chu Kang to CBD | 1 morning trip added, new bus stops added along Bukit Batok Rd |
| 650 | 850E | Yishun to CBD | 1 morning trip added |
| 684 | – | Brickland to CBD | – |
Bus service extension
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
While the Jurong Region Line is still under construction, buses are your best bet at getting to Tengah. From 14th June 2026, you’ll have another way to get there, with Bus 181 set for an extension into the neighbourhood.
The current route starts and ends at Boon Lay Bus Interchange, making a loop in Jurong West. But once the extension comes into effect, it’ll run between Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Tengah Bus Interchange instead.
Peak period bus services
Commuters living in the north will also find it easier to get to work in the mornings once Bus 461 starts operating. While there’s no set date for when the bus service will begin, it’s expected to run from Yishun East to Khatib MRT.
Upgraded bus interchanges
Artist’s impression of the upgraded Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange.
Image credit: Land Transport Authority
New things aren’t just happening with the buses themselves. In case you’ve never noticed, 7 bus interchanges have been undergoing upgrades too. While these have been in the works since 2024, the bus interchange upgrades are expected to be completed by 2027.
The main goal is to make the spaces more accessible and commuter-friendly for everyone. You’ll notice some new, helpful features around, such as priority queue zones, commuter care rooms, and tactile guided paths. There are also comfort upgrades in the mix, from additional seats to improved air conditioning and lighting systems.
Here’s the list of upgraded bus interchanges and those part of the improvement programme:
- Ang Mo Kio
- Bedok
- Boon Lay
- Clementi
- Sengkang
- Serangoon
- Toa Payoh
Upcoming bus interchanges
With new neighbourhoods, it only makes sense that new bus interchanges are being built to keep everything connected. Here’s a roundup of the upcoming bus interchanges that we could find at the time of writing:
Bedok South Integrated Transport Hub
The Upper East Coast Bus Terminal, which will be relocated to the Bedok South Integrated Transport Hub.
Image credit: Nicholas via Google Maps
There’s going to be a new bus interchange at the Bedok South Integrated Transport Hub (ITH), opening to serve the upcoming car-lite Bayshore precinct. It’ll also be integrated with Bedok South MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line, which will be opening in the 2nd half of 2026.
The bus services operating from the Upper East Coast Bus Terminal will be relocated here, with that terminal getting demolished once the relocation is done.
While we’re still unsure when the ITH will be completed, we do know that the Bayshore precinct is expected to be fully completed sometime in the mid-2030s.
Tampines North Integrated Transport Hub
The temporary Tampines North Bus Interchange.
Image adapted from: Lee Kuang via Google Maps
Another bus interchange to look out for in the east is the Tampines North ITH. First announced back in 2013, the ITH is now expected to be completed in 2030.
In the meantime, residents in the area are currently being served by the Tampines North Bus Interchange, and the bus services here will be moved to the ITH once it’s completed.
Chencharu Bus Interchange
Artist’s impression of the bus-only corridor along Chencharu Link.
Image credit: Housing & Development Board
Back in 2024, the Chencharu Bus Interchange was announced alongside plans for the upcoming Chencharu housing area, just a stone’s throw away from Khatib MRT. Buses are a priority in this neighbourhood – there’ll even be a 400m road dedicated to just buses to ensure a smoother journey for commuters.
Upcoming bus depots
Image for illustrative purposes only.
With so many buses running in the day, you might be wondering where they go in the dead of the night. To make space for all the new buses joining the ranks, there are also new bus depots planned to house them islandwide.
Simpang Bus Depot
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Yishun is also getting a new home for buses with the Simpang Bus Depot, 1 of 3 new bus depots slated to start operations in 2029.
The depot will have a 4-storey main building, and it’ll be home to 500 buses operating in the northern region of Singapore. There’ll also be a multi-storey staff quarters for transport staff and other ancillary buildings.
Pasir Panjang Bus Depot
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Buses down south will find a new home in Pasir Panjang Bus Depot. Built on the former site of Pasir Panjang Distripark, you can expect the depot to be up and running in 2029 too.
550 buses operating in the island’s southern region will be housed and maintained in the depot’s 7-storey main building, and you’ll also find a multi-storey staff quarters and ancillary buildings here.
Lorong Halus Bus Depot
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Further up in the north-east, Lorong Halus Bus Depot will round out the list of depots to be ready in 2029. At least 550 buses servicing the east will be housed in this upcoming 4-storey complex.
Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot
Image credit: jack LI via Google Maps
Ang Mo Kio is already seeing plenty of public transport upgrades, and they’re getting yet another with the new Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot, replacing the old depot that stopped operations in early 2025.
Expected to be completed in 2030, this new 5-storey depot will house up to 450 buses for parking and maintenance, and there’ll also be a 10-storey staff quarters for about 350 transport workers.
Look forward to these upgrades to our bus network down the road
Some Singaporeans may associate bus rides with the cramped daily commute to work or school, while others just love taking the longer route to unwind. No matter what kind of passenger you are, improvements to our bus network are very much welcome. As a bus enthusiast myself, I’d hope these upgrades would encourage more Singaporeans to hop on the bus for their next trip out to town.
Read more about our local buses:
Cover image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons, Land Transport Authority